Stanford. UPenn. Brown. Dartmouth. Duke.

Most students would consider an acceptance to just one of these institutions a lifetime achievement. Matthew Yu received offers from all of them—and eleven more across North America. 

But the real turning point arrived unprompted in February, two months before regular decisions were even released. Matthew received an early notification of admission from Stanford – extremely rare for international, non-recruited athletes. For Matthew, this rare nod wasn’t just an early acceptance; it was an immediate confirmation that Stanford’s values aligned with his own: energy, imagination, heart and a deep commitment to community. 

The story, however, isn't just about the offers or the final destination. The story is how a student finds the space to become a national-level figure skater, a Young Steinway Artist, and a Team Canada public speaker while maintaining a 15-course Advanced Placement load. At Collingwood, the answer is personalization.

“My motto is ‘Why not?’” Matthew says. “I see every new opportunity as a gate to keep discovering who I can become.”

This meant leveraging a unique schedule to balance a rigorous academic load with 25 hours of weekly ice time, ballet and strength training. As a BC Provincial Champion and international competitor representing Skate Canada, this non-traditional high school journey required a level of everyday discipline that carried over to the classroom.
 
At Collingwood, we believe that students should have agency over their learning. We prioritize competencies over content, ensuring students develop the skills required to face a world that doesn’t have a syllabus. At the heart of our approach is the belief that a student should be able to demonstrate their learning in the way that works best for them, choosing the medium — be it a stage, a rink, or a podium — that allows their talent to shine. 

For Matthew, this meant treating his diverse interests not as distractions, but as vital components of his intellectual growth. He views his passions as a way to enhance his neuroplasticity, noting that "when I figure skate, I rest my mind; when I study, I rest my body; and when I play piano, I let my soul explore." By leaning into these intersections, he learned to absorb ten hours of material in three, a skill that will continue to be his greatest asset at Stanford.

Central to this intellectual development was Collingwood’s public speaking program, which Matthew credits for helping him find his voice. From winning the Junior Canadian Public Speaking Championships to representing the school globally as a finalist at Speech Worlds in Bristol, the discipline of annual Speak Weeks became the foundation for his leadership.

Away from the podium, Matthew recharges his curiosity through a 120-plus Rubik’s Cube collection, massive jigsaw puzzles, and running North Shore trails with his dog. He credits Collingwood's EXL program, specifically a weeklong Explore 9 kayak trip to Kyuquot Sound, with teaching him to appreciate these moments of grit and outdoor connection.

This multidimensional intelligence was first sparked in Grade 5, when Matthew was a finalist on CBC’s Canada’s Smartest Person Junior. He realized early on that success isn't just about academic metrics — it's about how you apply social, musical, physical, and logical "smarts" to the world around you. 

Collingwood provided the space for Matthew to thrive across the Four Strands–academics, arts, athletics and service learning. This culminated in his role as Communications Executive, a position Matthew calls his proudest achievement where he inherited the weekly sign-off from a past student, Jena Yue: “I’m Matthew Yu, and I’m here for YOU.” By using his voice to inspire the community, he transformed a leadership position into a daily expression of school spirit and belonging. Mirroring his mentor before him, that culture of mutual support is exactly what Matthew will take with him to Stanford. 

Matthew also took this passion for public advocacy directly to City Council to argue for improved healthcare infrastructure for seniors and cemented his civic leadership by co-founding the Law & Government Club, where he hosted cross-party discussions with sitting MPs and MLAs.

Through the Yarrow Collingwood Youth Council, he helped raise over $10,000 for low-income immigrant seniors, and his artistic outreach saw him co-found the Classical Music Club, growing it to 68 members. By organizing over 30 local recitals for seniors, the club caught the attention of Omni TV, who featured their work to inspire others to join. For Matthew, the highlight was the opportunity to create local connections through music, including an intercultural collaboration with Squamish Elder Bob Baker designed to bring people together in a spirit of reconciliation.

While Matthew’s trajectory is certainly unique, the support system behind him is the Collingwood standard. Our University Guidance (UG) team helped him find the "right fit" rather than just the highest rank. This personalized mentorship is why, when Stanford reached out with an early notification of admission in February, Matthew knew he had found his home. 

This journey of self-discovery is available to every Collingwood student. Our team of full-time UG counsellors work with every student beginning in Grade 8. Students remain at the centre of the process, taking agency over their deadlines and research while the UG team is there to support, encourage, and counsel students as they navigate the complex application processes of Canadian, American, and International post-secondary options.

"Our goal is to help students find a university that suits them well, but it’s also an opportunity for them to reflect on who they are," says Ms. Pezim, Matthew’s UG Counsellor. 

"With Matthew, my role was to provide the fuel and motivation during the long essay-writing grind. Seeing him reflect on his experiences at Collingwood to find his true voice was as rewarding as the final acceptance letter."

For Matthew, the relationship was equally valuable.  

"Ms. Pezim’s encouragement was immeasurable," Matthew reflects. "Whenever I needed help with wording, structure, or how to approach a section of an application, I knew I could go to her. That kind of personalized support turns a daunting process into an empowering one."

“At Stanford, I hope to explore political science and public policy, especially at the intersection of technology, healthcare, affordability, and support for vulnerable communities,”  Matthew says. “I know I want to use my education to help design policies that genuinely improve people’s lives, eventually through work in the Canadian Government.” 

As he prepares to join the Stanford Class of 2030, he leaves Collingwood not just with a world-class transcript and resume, but with a toolkit of skills ready for the world that awaits.